It is not too early to start planning your bulb planting for spring flowers. If you live in the north region, your planting time should be between September and October. If you live further south, you can wait until the end of October or November to plant bulbs. Hopefully, you already have the bulbs as most companies require at least a month for delivery. If you have them now and it is too early to plant, just be sure to keep them dry and in a cool place. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

If you buy bulbs from a local gardening place, there are some things to look for when selecting them. Make sure that bulbs are firm but not dried out and free of mold, spots and anything that resembles fungus. Another thing to remember is that the bigger the bulb, the bigger the flower will be and a double bulb normally means that you will get two plants.

The companies that sell bulbs usually offer good information and advice about planting, storing, nurturing and propagating bulbs. However, the planting depth for your area really depends on where you live. For example, if the ground where you live does not freeze to any significant depth or for extended periods of time, you can plant bulbs about an inch shallower than the depth suggested by companies. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

There are a few things that are a must before planting bulbs and at the top of the list is the soil. Unless you have good soil, your bulbs or other plants will not do well. Rich soil is the key to healthy plants and beautiful flowers. So be sure to prepare the soil by following the directions given with your purchase. Also be sure to note the best location to plant the bulbs. Some bulbs should be planted where there is full sun while others require a shady area or part sun.

Next decide how you want your garden to look when the bulbs are in full bloom. Spacing them is the key and you can follow recommendations given by the company where you bought them from or you can plant them closer together for a very beautiful and dramatic look. If in doubt, buy bulbs from a reputable company like Breck’s that has been bringing us quality bulbs from Holland since 1818. You will get all the advice you need from this company as well as top quality bulbs. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

Have you heard about the Bat Plant? Yes, you heard that right, there is a very unique tropical plant called the Bat Plant. It actually resembles a bat and is very different than other plants. And, most people have never seen it before and are simply amazed by its weird look.

The bat plant produces eye-catching foliage and the flower is one of the most talked about you will have in your garden. The flower is a strange looking one that almost resembles a bat’s black face with large ears and long spooky whiskers. This unusual tropical perennial comes from the monsoon forests of West Africa and South East Asia. (photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.)

For Gothic charm and a bit of Halloween decorations, get a bat plant bulb, plant it now in the autumn and you should have that unique ghostly garden next year. From what I understand, the bat plant blooms in late summer and early fall in Florida. For colder climates, it is recommended that you plant the bulb indoors in a container and then move it outside when the weather warms up.

If you want to have some fun, plant the bulb now in an unusual container like a hollowed pumpkin or a coffin like one with orange and yellow colors. Next spring, the plant will come up with lots of glossy leaves and in early summer, a stalk will develop resembling a budge near the tip. After that the flower begins to form, whiskers and all, resembling a bat’s face. (photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.)

The bat plant comes in white and maroon colors and the maroon one looks really spooky. It reaches 3 feet tall and wide and likes indirect sunlight so it is best to plant it indoors. If you want to plant it in the garden, dig a hole large enough so that you can put the whole pot into it. This way, you can easily move it indoors when the weather gets cold. (photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.)

To your ghostly garden,
Diana

Amaryllis is a beautiful flower that resembles a lily and usually thrives in the South but can be planted indoors in containers in colder regions. They come in many varieties and colors such as white, red, pink, salmon, orange and many others. Amaryllis flowers are very popular and in demand worldwide and favored by lots of gardeners because it blooms indoor in the winter months.

Did you know that Amaryllis can be forced to bloom in about six weeks after planting? Yes, you can plant Amaryllis bulbs in a container indoors and force them to bloom in late winter by inducing a dormant period. Since Amaryllis stalks are quite heavy when it blooms, make sure the container you use is large enough so it will not tip over. Once the plant is established indoors, you can move them outdoors or even plant them in your garden when the danger of frost is past.

The botanical name for Amaryllis is ‘Hippeastrum’ which is Greek and means ‘horseman’s star’. This specie of Amaryllis was chosen in 1837 by the honorable Reverend William Herbert who was Dean of Manchester at the time. Why he chose this name, no one really knows because Hippeastrum is native to tropical and sub-tropical regions of the Americas, Argentina, Mexico and the Caribbean. (photo courtesy of kabloomofsandysprings.com)

When purchasing Amaryllis bulbs, make sure that they are firm to the touch and have a thin brown outer layers similar to an onion. Never buy bulbs that are soft or look sick or have green mold on them. To plant your Amaryllis indoors, do the following:

1. Select your bulb
2. Buy a pot or container slightly larger than the bulb
3. Fill the pot half way with potting soil
4. Place the bulb on top of the soil making sure that the top of it is exposed
5. Add more soil around the sides of the pot
6. Water so that the soil is moist but not too wet
7. Place the pot in a bright area but not in direct sun
8. Turn the pot every few days to get even light
9. Within a few weeks, a thick flower stalk should shoot up

It really is that easy to plant Amaryllis indoors and have beautiful flowers during the winter months. Here are a few of my favorites.

Amaryllis Pizzazz – Botanical name is Hippeastrum Pizzazz

(Photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.)
Here is a beautiful Amaryllis that has huge 6-inch striped blooms with ruffled edges and starry white centers. The flowers are bright cherry red, white striping and the petals are ruffled in pure white. Truly gorgeous! The blooms are held by a sturdy 15 inch stems. Pizzazz blooms in 36 days after planting and produces 4-7 large blooms per plant and thrives in zones 8-11.

Amaryllis Snow White – Botanical name is Hippeastrum Snow White

(Photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.)
Snow white surely fits this beautiful Amaryllis. It has huge pure white frilly blooms on 12 inch stems. The blooms reach 8 inches across and you can expect 4-7 blooms that will add beauty to your home during the winter months. Snow white blooms in 32 days after planting and thrives in zones 8-11.

Amaryllis Razzle Dazzle – Botanical name is Hippeastrum Razzle Dazzle

(Photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.)
This Amaryllis is sometimes called candy cane because of its pin striping. It has 7 inch stripped flowers and the bulb produces up to 9 blooms per plant. Razzle Dazzle blooms 37 days after planting and thrives in zones 8-11.

Amaryllis Little Angel – Botanical name is Hippeastrum Little Angel

(Photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.)
Little Angel produces gorgeous pure white 3 inch blooms with soft green center. This Amaryllis is ready to bloom in just 28 days after planting and thrives in zones 8-11.

To your gardening success,
Diana

There are hundreds of species of Irises today and the time to plant the bulbs is now in the autumn. It has been said that Irises go back to before the 11th century and the name is derived from the Greek word ‘rainbow’ referring to the wide variety of flower colors that are among the many species of Irises.

This beautiful flower is extensively grown as ornamental plants and the most commonly found garden iris is the bearded German Iris. Other types of hybrids have come along which are crosses between tall and dwarf varieties. (Photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.)

The bearded irises are easy to cultivate and propagate and are popular in many gardens. The reason is that these grow in any type of garden soil and a little peat moss. Dwarf irises are early bloomers meaning that these bloom in full from March to May.

It is important to mention that Iris plants have rhizomes (a horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found above or underground) that sit at the top of the soil surface. These rhizomes are used in perfume even today and in medicine during ancient times. I also found out that dried rhizomes are given whole to babies to help in the teething process, and Magellan Gin uses iris root and flower for flavor and color.

There is so much history about this beautiful flower that it is much too much to mention here. For example, the iris has been associated with France as Louis VII adopted it as a symbol in the 12th century. The iris is almost the universal symbol of scouting and one of the symbols adopted by the sorority Kappa Gamma.

In addition to the above, the iris is the symbol of Brussels since historically Saint Gaugericus Island was carpeted in them and the iris is now featured on the flag of the Brussels Capital Region. The iris is also the state flower of Tennessee and featured by many other states.

As you can see, there is enough history about irises to write a book, but the one thing we all agree on is that irises are absolutely beautiful flowers. Here are a few of my favorites.

Iris ‘Jennifer Rebecca’ – Botanical name is Iris x germanica Jennifer Rebecca

(photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.)
This is re-blooming tall bearded iris that re-blooms heavily again in the autumn. It was introduced by Zurbrigg in 1985 and it sets its first and heaviest flush of flowers in late spring. Jennifer Rebecca is known to be a dependable and generous bloomer and has ruffled, fragrant pink tone flowers in the spring and lavender in the fall. It tolerates heat and humidity and grows well in zones 3-10

Iris Louisiana ‘Bold Pretender – Botanical name is the same

(photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.)
Here is a Native American water plant that some gardeners love to plant in ponds and alongside streams. It loves wet, soggy soils that most other perennials like to avoid. The flowers begin in early to midsummer and are two tone red blooms. It has been said that there is no such thing as a true red iris but this variety comes close.  Bold Pretender was bred by Morgan in 1983 and has become a favorite for many gardeners. Plant them in very moist soil, grows well in zones 3-9.

Iris ‘Best Bet’ – Botanical name is iris x germanica Best Bet

(photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.)
Here is another iris that will bloom twice. The first and heaviest bloom is in late spring and then early summer. This gorgeous iris with its light and dark blue combination of colors makes it a highly prized cut flower for arrangements. The plant reaches about 3 feet tall and up to 24 inches wide, and grows well in zones 3-8

Iris x Germanica Immortality – Botanical name is the same

(photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.)
Another beautiful re-bloomer that blooms first in early summer and then again in late summer. This iris was introduced in 1982 and has been the winner of several awards for its unique beauty. It has pure white petals and lemony color beards. Immortality grows just 29 inches tall and spreads about 18 inches wide which is ideal to mix with other taller irises in your garden. It likes full sun and grows well in zones 3-8.

To your gardening success,
Diana